How to Make Infallible Pies with Foolproof Crusts

The fastest way to someone’s heart is through his or her stomach, and since everyone loves a sweet treat, we’re thinking that perfect pies are the ticket to being the most popular guest at any party. And while a good pie certainly needs a good filling, a great pie needs an incredible crust. According to Melissa Clark, food columnist for the NY Times, “pie is an iconic American dessert, and there are few kitchen projects as rewarding as baking one. The best pies start with a flaky homemade crust, which is a lot easier to make than some people fear.”

So where do you begin with the best pie crust recipe? How do you know which piecrust recipe truly is the BEST? We’re not exaggerating, when you Google the phrase “piecrust recipe” you get over 4 million hits. We’re not experts, but it’s hard to believe that there can be over 4 million best pies out there. So where do you start? What makes a piecrust so great?

For starters, you need to know that there are several different schools of thought when it comes to perfect pies. First, there is the crew that believes the flakier the better. (We happen to agree with them.) Others prefer a more compact and crumbly dough for their piecrust. And depending on your recipe, you may opt for a completely different type of crumb-based crust (think graham cracker). See what we mean? Lots of options, and it’s hard to determine what is “best” since it’s really a matter of opinion.